Connecting for Life - Kildare and West Wicklow

On Tuesday 20th February, two new Connecting for Life Local Action Plans for the HSE Community Healthcare Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow area, were launched.

Pictured at the launch were, from left to right: John Meehan, Kevin Brady, Frances Fitzgerald TD & David Walsh.

Speakers at the launch were Catherine Byrne TD (Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Health Promotion and the National Drugs Strategy), Kevin Brady (Head of Mental Health Community Healthcare Dublin South Kildare and West Wicklow), John Meehan (HSE Assistant National Director with responsibility for Mental Health Strategy and Planning and the National Office for Suicide Prevention), Margaret Duggan (Area Lead for Mental Health Engagement) and David Walsh (Chief Officer Community Healthcare Dublin South Kildare and West Wicklow).

At the launch, Mr David Walsh thanked Suicide Resource Officers Ms Emma Freeman (Dublin South), Niamh Crudden and Mr David Gray (Kildare West Wicklow) for the hard work and dedication displayed in their approach to the development of the Connecting for Life Suicide Prevention Action Plans for the area. He thanked the staff in the National Office for Suicide Prevention, the HSE Mental Health Division and the members of Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow Suicide Prevention Groups for their support and guidance in the development of the Action Plans.

Mr Walsh acknowledged the organisations and individuals in Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow area who took the time to share their views on suicide prevention and mental health during the public consultation process.

“Connecting for Life represents a local articulation of the National Connecting for Life strategy, it is a locally-based, multiagency response to self-harm and suicide in the communities of Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow. These action plans represent an honest and intentional effort by local stakeholders to target both resources and actions towards the prevention of suicide in this catchment area.”

Connecting for Life Kildare, West Wicklow is based on the same vision, goals, objectives and measurable outcomes as outlined in the national strategy, Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020. Connecting for Life, sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

This vision is to be realised through seven goals:

Better understanding of suicidal behaviour

Supporting communities to prevent and respond to suicidal behaviour

Targeted approaches for those vulnerable to suicide

Improved access, consistency and integration of services

Safe and high-quality services

Reduce access to means

Better data and research

Connecting for Life builds on previous work and contributes key elements to moving forward. It is based on extensive consultation, a global knowledge base and defined commitments across government departments and key statutory and non-statutory agencies in Ireland. The Dublin South local Action Plan is grounded in this approach which recognises the contributions that can be made across all sectors of our community with the aim of reducing suicide. The plan lays out very specific steps to deliver the actions that are relevant to the needs of people in this area.